Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-17
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, March Is.

S"AiSh " oIuSE Nv the secretary.
On motion of Mr.. Lumbert,
Ordered, the President of the Senate heinz
absent, that the Hon. Herbert NJ Heath h.
chosen President pro TEN
Mr. Heath was conducted TO the chair by
Mr.. Lumoert, and briefly returned thanks for
the honor conferred
| Prayer BY Rev. Mr.. Whitman of Augusta.
| Papers from the House disposed of in con-
currenee.
Bill an act TO abolish the attachment of
wages by the trustee process came from the
House indefinitely postponed. and Mr.. Nor
cross moved to indefinitely postpone in con.
currence.
| On this question yea and nav vote was
taken on motion of Mr.. Gushee, resulting in
the negative, as follows;
YEA-Messrs. Cole. Dunnell Hinckley, Nickels,
Noreross. Sargent, simpson, Wallace Young-9.
NAY-Messrs. Allen, Daggett. Flint, Gilbert,
Gcodnow. Gushee, Harmon, Heath, Hill Jones Ken.
Wn. 9al. aeSfy Lumoert, Rich, Russell. Sleeper.
ABSENT OR Nor vorING-Messrs Burrill. Lord.
Marble, Phair, Wescott.-5.
The bill was then passed to be engrossed
under suspension of the rule.
On motion of Mr.. Goodnow, bill an act ad.
diuonal to chap. Al of the revised statutes.
relating to the investment of the funds of
savings banks, was taken from the table
and indefinitely postponed in concurrence
with the House.
On motion of Mr. Libbey bill an act for the
incorporation of the State Mutual Accident
Association was taken from the table, and
the same gentleman moved to suspend the
rule that the measure might have its first
reading without reference to a committee.
Mr. Gilbert spoke against the motion and
Mr. Libbey in favor. The motion to suspend
the rule was lost and on motion of Mr.. Gill
bert the bill was indefinitely postponed.
On motion of Mr.. Libbey the vote passing
to be engrossed the bill relating to savings
banks was reconsidered. The bill was then
amended, on motion of the same gentleman,
by reducing the penalty provided in sec. 3
from 500 to $40, and passed 10 be engrossed.
On motion of Mr. Gilbert that gsntlenIan
was charged with and conveyed a message TO
the Governor and Council and the House in
forming those bodies that in the absence OF
the President the Senate had made choice of
Hon. Herbert NJ. Heath as President pro tenn.
On motion of Mr.. Heath (Mr. Libbey be-
ing in the chair), bill an act to abolish i'm
prisonment for debt except in cases of fraud
was taken i'om the table.
Mr.. Heatl said
This bill r, nders the arrest of an honest
l'b'n- impos ible. Its theory is this, that
pense have the affairs of the debtor i. quired
into hv re>pon,ible magistrate without the
disgrace OF an arrest If no fraud is proved,
the debtor can never be examined agl sin on
that debt and never arrested. If fraud is
proven, the bill provides that the debtor shall
thereupon be liable to be imprisoned and
proceeded with under the present law.
Under the existing law. debtor. no matter
how honest, can be imprisoned and must
| bear the expense of the disclosure. Under
| this bill no man, honest or dishonest, can be
arrested on an execution for debt until at the
expense of the creditor he has been proven
before a responsible magistrate to have com
mitted some fraud Some of us on the com
mittee would have preferred the bill with
section 81 stricken out, which leaves exist
ing contracts under the old law. But to in
sure the passage of the bill, we felt it our
duty to Weld and give to future debtors a
Just and humane system. So far as the fu-
ture is concerned it gives to all men willing
to pay but unable to do so by poverty, an ex-
emption from the possibility of arrest. 1t is
great step in advance and practically wipes
! from the statutes one of its greatest stains.
| As the best bill obtaiuable, trust it will re-
| ceive unanimous passage.
On motion of Mr.. Heath the rule vas sus-
pended and the bill was given its two several
readings and passed to be engrossed in con-
currence with the House.
Mr. Wesc0tt, from the Committee on Rail-
roads, Telegraphs and Expresses, reported
reference to the next legislature on bill an
act to regulate fares on railroads and bill an
act to adjust the tariff of railroads, referred
bv the last legislature to this; also the same
! report on bill an act to regulate railroad com
merce in the State of Maine.
| Mr. Cole from the Committee on Temper
ance, made final report.
Mr. Wescott. from the Committee on Rail
roads .Telegraphs and Expresses, made final
report.
On motion of Mr.. Lumbert bill an act to
amend sec /, chap. l27 of the revised stat
utes relating to malicious mischief. was taken
from the table and indefinitely postponed in
concurrence with the House.
On motion of Mr.. Gilbert the report of
the Committee on Interior Waters giving
leave to withdraw on petition of +. NJ.
Thomas to run steamboat in Richardson
Lake, was taken from the table and accepted
in concurrence with the House.
Mr.. Sleeper moved to reconsider the vote
passing to be engrossed the bill to amend the
prohbitory law. He explained that yesterday
he voted for The amendment to sec. under a
m;sapprehension. He understood the amend
|
violation of the liquor law, of the fact that a
tax as liquor dealer had been paid, thing
to which hs was opposed.
Mr.. Lumbert opposed the motion and Mr..
Daggett favored.
The vote was reconsidered, II in favor and
10 opposed.
Mr. Sleeper then moved to reconsider the
amendment to sec. 8, which is as follows
.'But the payment of said tax by an apothe-
carv registered under the provisions of
chap. 2S of the revised statutes, shall not be
held to be prrma faeie evidence as aforesaid
against him"
A yea and nav vote was taken on motion
of Mr.. Daggett, resulting in the affirmative
as follows:
| YRA-Messrs Allen, Cole. Daggett. Dunnell. Flint
| Harmon Eeath, Hill, Hinckley, Jones, Norcross
Rich, Russell. Sleeper, Weynouih.-ls
| NAY-Messrs. Gilbert, Goodnow, Kendall, iiooey
ABSENT OR Nor voTISG-Messrs. .Burrill. .Gushee
Lord, Marble. Phair. simpsons.
The amendment was then rejected and the
bill passed to be engrossed.
Mr. Allen presented resolve in favor Of
| library of the Maine State Prison which was
passed to be engrossed under suspension oi
the rules.
! Bill an act to amend sec. lS,chap. 4.revised
statutes, relating to the time of opening and
closing the polls at the election of State Off
GERS and electors of President and Vice Pres
ident of the United States, on its passage tc
be enacted, was laid on the ia lie on motion
of Mr.. Libbey.
Bill an act to regulate the employment o!
/ Al